Local

Parson signs off on $1.2B in added spending

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Friday he has signed the more than $1.2 billion supplemental budget state lawmakers approved in special legislative session. Federal funds make up more than $1.17 billion of the almost $1.28 billion supplemental budget — with… more

DOJ begins civil rights investigation in KCMO

The city of Kansas City, Mo. is facing a civil rights investigation from the Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations some of its practices don’t comply with federal law. The DOJ is specifically looking into whether KCMO’s public contracting and… more

Coping with COVID: Potential Thanksgiving case jump may not be seen for another two weeks

In a University of Kansas Health System daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Stites said that a potential Thanksgiving “surge” in cases may not be evident for another two weeks. As of Thursday. KU Health was… more

Missouri to receive $346M for broadband projects from FCC

The Federal Communications Commission on Monday announced $9.2 billion in funding for rural broadband expansion projects, with about $346.3 million going toward projects in Missouri. Funds from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction will be awarded to 180 companies over… more

Kansas lieutenant governor to become state treasurer

Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers to the position of Kansas State Treasurer on Thursday. Rogers will have to step down as lieutenant governor to assume his new role. Current State Treasurer Jake LaTurner was elected to the… more

Federal funding in place for KC streetcar extension

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) have officially recommended that the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension to UMKC receive the full federal funding requested to build the project under the FTA’s New Starts Capital Investment Grants… more

Coping with COVID: New executive order requires COVID-19 testing in Kansas adult care facilities

Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to provide updates regarding COVID-19 in Kansas, joined by KDADS Secretary Laura Howard and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman. Kelly announced she has signed Executive Order #20-69, requiring COVID-19 testing in certain adult care… more

BlueKC to extend waive of some COVID-19 costs into 2021

A select number of commercial health insurers nationwide have announced they intend to continue waiving certain COVID-19 member costs going into 2021. Members of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are among those to benefit, Blue KC only… more

Clinical Reference Laboratory expands operations out west

Confirm BioSciences out of San Diego, Calif. has been acquired by Lenexa-based Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL). CRL is one of the largest privately held clinical testing laboratories in the U.S., and now leverages Confirm's massive customer base in Drugs of… more

North Kansas City declines partnership with Vizient

At least one of three Kansas City metro hospitals has opted out of a statewide partnership with Vizient, a national health care performance company. First announced as a statewide partnership by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, the company is expected to… more